'Fairer Alternative' Amendment To GST Lost

Deputies vote down the proposal by deputies Soulsby, St Pier and Kazantseva-Miller by 24 votes to 16.

Voting on the 'Fairer Alternative' came late in the day on the first day of what is due to be a lengthy debate of P&R's plans for finding extra money to pay for future spending and infrastructure projects.

The session began with deputies quickly getting down to the substance of the October meeting by agreeing to sit for an hour longer each day, and skip the usual statements and Q&A session.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby introduced the amendment by comparing P&R's latest policy letter on raising money with GST and borrowing, to films and their sequels:

"The comparison with the film world is obvious...and those behind the original can learn by their mistakes and use that to make the sequel better. And they can listen to their audience and make improvements. What makes them worse, can be rushed production, lack of originality and diminishing returns."

Deputy Dave Mahoney, came back at her for P&R:

"Well that was an interesting opening. I'm sure those listening might have been interested a bit more in detail and substance, than a string of movie titles and tag lines."

The Fairer Alternative amendment was eventually thrown out.  It had included paid parking, a tourist tax and raising corporate tax to 15%.

We tried.

(With thanks due to @HeidiSoulsby and @sashakmiller for your energy, time and commitment in the attempt.) https://t.co/zBW5tsqJE6

— Gavin St Pier 🇬🇬 (@gavinstpier) October 17, 2023

Debate took up much of the elongated morning and afternoon. Deputies had agreed to sit until 6pm, but a late amendment from deputy Peter Roffey meant it was agreed that the session would end early, to give members time to consider it.

He suggests changing the way deputies vote on the Funding and Investment Plan to make it more logical:

"This amendment asks the Assembly to come to separate and distinct decisions on two things...how much tax we raise...and how much capital spending we carry out, on what, and how we fund it."

A proposition to increase contribution and benefit rates for next year was voted through unanimously, meaning the old age pension will increase in line with inflation by 6.8%.